Some dogs never experience true love. Instead, they spend their lives trying to escape abuse and neglect, with only a few ever succeeding.
Mistreated dogs are often seen as inherently aggressive, leading to more mistreatment. Many end up tragically, waiting for their owners to unfairly set them for euthanasia.
One such story comes from California, where an elderly dog named Ollie was on the brink of that terrible fate. Severely mistreated and highly aggressive, Ollie was about to face inevitable death until a kind man stepped in to give him a second chance.
Ollie’s Heartbreaking Story
Source: Cathi Perez
When Sal Valdepeña, founder of Balooja’s Foundation in Upland, California, first met Ollie, he seemed like a lost cause. This dog, over 15 years old, was extremely aggressive due to mistreatment, constantly growling and barking at people.
But Sal didn’t give up. He took Ollie to his facility and found the perfect foster home – and the perfect mom.
Cathi Perez, a long-time dog lover and foster, was more than happy to welcome Ollie into her home. When they first met, he was completely matted and covered in feces. On top of that, Ollie couldn’t stand on his legs due to a possible old injury.
“He was a filthy matted mess covered with feces and urine stained, unable to walk and extremely aggressive, lunging and thrashing out at anyone and anything that came near him and was on the fast track for euthanasia,” Perez wrote on Facebook.
A Lot Of Ups And Downs
Source: Cathi Perez
Initially, Ollie was defensive all the time. For the first few days, he just lay in his customized pen, growling at his foster mom. He was so mistreated that he wouldn’t even let Cathi touch him.
After a vet exam, Ollie was put on multiple medications for his pain and anxiety. He soon started to feel more at ease and could stand for a few moments. He still had a long way to go, but he was improving.
Thanks to Cathi’s endless love and support, Ollie finally began to learn what love felt like. He even allowed her to clean his pen and pat him on the back.
But then, he would sometimes revert to his old self. His days were filled with a constant struggle between his past and his present.
“He isn’t always feeling it but he is much more at ease and relaxed, his medications kicking in and relieving his pain and anxiety is a major factor,” wrote Perez.
Despite the challenges, Cathi never gave up. She transitioned from being Ollie’s foster mom to his forever mom.
Source: Cathi Perez
Sal and Cathi continued to take Ollie to regular vet appointments and give him the necessary medications. Unfortunately, the vet confirmed that Ollie didn’t have much time left.
Ollie had no more strength to fight, and he had more bad days than good. Yet, during his final days, he showed a glimmer of hope that all the care wasn’t in vain.
His sad eyes began to show joy, and his tail finally wagged. For the first time, Ollie knew he was surrounded by love and that Cathi’s home was a safe place.
Love And Kindness As A Final Gift
Source: Cathi Perez
Cathi did everything to make Ollie’s last days memorable. She showered him with love and affection, which he enjoyed despite his trauma.
Happy and cared for, Ollie crossed the rainbow bridge with his momma by his side.
“His was a tragic life of neglect, abuse, and abandonment, but we all rallied to his side. He had a community behind him. He crossed ever so gently, while I whispered to him I love you,” Perez wrote in a Facebook post.
Despite her loss, Cathi is grateful she could be there for Ollie. She’s thankful that his final memories were good ones, as they always should have been.